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TOPIC 1: INDIGENOUS SOCIETIES AND CULTURES IN THE AMERICAS - IBHOAUnit 1: How were the Americas Populated?

4 STAGES OF CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT: Stage 1- Archaic/Pre-Ceramic

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HOW WERE THE AMERICAS POPULATED?

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1. BERING STRAIGHT MIGRATION THEORY

Revised Understanding: 15,000 – 20,000 years ago –

first migration from Asia through Bering Strait Land Bridge

Possible Multiple migrations followed

Is this the only possibility??

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2. COASTAL MIGRATION THEORY

Pacific Rim Theory Humans reached the

Americas by water 2,000 years earlier!!

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MONTE VERDE, CHILE

Archeological site discovered in 1976

Evidence of 20-30 humans living in huts along a creek

14,000 years ago!! ( pre-dates Bering Strait migration theory)

Evidence of coastal migration theory?

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NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC – THE FIRST AMERICANS; PATHS TO THE NEW WORLD

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2015/01/first-americans/new-world-map

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THE INCREDIBLE HUMAN JOURNEY: THE AMERICAS (2013) – DR. ALICE ROBERTS, UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWYGaKSeCeo 29:00-40:00

More info: http://csfa.tamu.edu/who.php

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WHAT DOES DNA REVEAL?

Naia - oldest Humans remains found in the Americas

found in underwater cave in Yucatan, Mexico

Lived 12,000-13,000 years ago

DNA reveals she is related to 11% of living American Indians

Findings published in 2014

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3. NATIVE AMERICAN CREATION STORIES

Ancestors originated in the Western Hemisphere, and did not “migrate”.

Oral Traditions across Native American cultures stress:

Creator God(s) / “Great Spirit”

People born from the earth Ancestral Land Some stress migration

within the continent

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CHOCTAW CREATION MYTH

“At the beginning there was a great mound. It was called Nanih Wiya. It was from this mound that the Creator fashioned the first of the people. These people crawled through a long, dark cave into daylight. They became the first Choctaw.”

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COMANCHE CREATION MYTH

"One day the Great Spirit collected swirls of dust from the four directions in order to create the Commanche people. These people formed from the earth had the strength of mighty storms. Unfortunately, a shape-shifting demon was also created and began to torment the people. The Great Spirit cast the demon into a bottomless pit. To seek revenge the demon took refuge in the fangs and stingers of poisonous creatures and continues to harm people every chance it gets."

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CREEK CREATION MYTH

“The Creek believe that the world was originally entirely underwater. The only land was a hill, called Nunne Chaha, and on the hill was a house, wherein lived Esaugetuh Emissee ("master of breath"). He created humanity from the clay on the hill.”

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MAYA QUICHE CREATION MYTH

“…the Creators, Heart of Sky and six other deities including the Feathered Serpent, wanted to create human beings with hearts and minds who could “keep the days.” But their first attempts failed. When these deities finally created humans out of yellow and white corn who could talk, they were satisfied.”

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THE INCREDIBLE HUMAN JOURNEY: THE AMERICAS (2013) – DR. ALICE ROBERTS, UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWYGaKSeCeo 1-9:52

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WHICH THEORY DO YOU BELIEVE? WHY?

1. Bering Strait Migration Theory? 2. Coastal Migration Theory? 3. Other?

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FOUR PERIODS OF NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY PRIOR TO EUROPEAN

CONTACT1. Archaic/ Pre-Ceramic (7000-2500 B.C.)2. Pre- Classic (2500 BC – AD 1)3. Classic Period (AD 1-1000)4. Post –Classic (AD 1000-1500)

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FOUR STAGES OF CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT:

1. Archaic/Pre-ceramic (7000-2500 BC)

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1. ARCHAIC/ PRE-CERAMIC (7000-2500 B.C.)

Features: 1. Beginnings of agriculture 2. Early Permanent Settlements 3. Early pottery

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THE EMERGENCE OF AGRICULTURE: MAIZE (CORN)

Maize (corn): 5,000 B.C. In Mexico

As early as 5,000 b.c. farmers practiced rudimentary agriculture at Tehuacan (modern day state of Puebla, Mexico)

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HISTORY OF MAIZE CULTIVATION –THE MAX PLANCK INSTITUTE, COLOGNE GERMANY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNrk561aBzU

Source: The Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research

conducts basic molecular biological research on plants with the goal of developing more efficient breeding techniques and environmentally sound plant protection strategies for industrial crops.

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YES, TORTILLAS ARE HISTORIC

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HOW DID AGRICULTURAL KNOWLEDGE SPREAD?

Cultural Diffusion -The spread of cultural practices + beliefs from 1 culture to another,

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NORTH AMERICAN “THREE SISTERS” AS STAPLE CROPS

1. MAIZE- provides a structure for the beans to climb

2. BEANS- provide the nitrogen for soil

3. SQUASH- prevents soil moisture from evaporating

Staple crops

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NORTH AMERICAN “THREE SISTERS”

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MESOAMERICAN CULTURES (MEXICO & CENTRAL AMERICA)

Developed a dependence on Maize/corn agriculture

Developed a religious tradition that linked agriculture to fertility.

Other crops: chili peppers, avocado, tomatoes, cacao beans (chocolate), various fruit depending on region.

What is the connection between agriculture, religion, and fertility (life)?

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TRADITIONAL MEXICAN CUISINE- ANCESTRAL, ONGOING COMMUNITY CULTURE THE MICHOACÁN

PARADIGM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhZ-EKPPQkU

Source: UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)

Building intercultural understanding: through protection of heritage and support for cultural diversity. UNESCO created the idea of World Heritage to protect sites of outstanding universal value.

What are your thoughts regarding the video?

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THE EMERGENCE OF AGRICULTURE: SOUTH AMERICAN POTATOES

Potatoes: Domesticated 10,000 years

ago However, evidence suggests

people were consuming potatoes 13,000 years ago

In Peru & Bolivia (Andes region) South America

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THE EMERGENCE OF AGRICULTURE: SOUTH AMERICAN POTATOES

3,000 – 4,000 different types of potatoes are grown in Peru!

Potatoes reached Mexico between 3,000-2,000 B.C.

The South American Potato first introduced in Europe in 16th and 17th century (after initial Spanish explorations)

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THE EMERGENCE OF AGRICULTURE: SOUTH AMERICAN POTATOES

When the potato was first introduced in Europe (16th and 17th centuries), people were afraid …

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THE SOUTH AMERICAN POTATO AS FASHION IN FRANCE (1700’S)!

Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI 1700’s (France)

Marie Antoinette wore potato blossoms in her hair

Her husband, Louis XVI, wore a potato flower on his shirt

French aristocracy began wearing potato plants on their clothes

The flowers were part of an attempt to persuade French farmers to plant and French diners to eat this strange new species

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AMERICA BEFORE COLUMBUS: NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC (2014)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wn5Fu8GRkbU 10:00 – 16:00 the domestication of corn and potatoes

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AGRICULTURE IN THE AMERICAS LED TO…

1. Permanent settlement * Villages 2. Innovations such as irrigation,

Terracing, raised fields 3. Increase in food supply 4. Increase in Population 5. Trade/Economy 6. Division of labor 7. Political and Social

organization * Social Classes

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EARLY POTTERY

Functional Pottery: Pots Art: Emergence of clay

figurines (possibly symbols of fertility)

Some figurines depict actions of everyday life

Animal figurines And possibly figurines that

depicted deities Tlatilco, Mexico

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